Amity Shlaes writes an interesting column on Britain’s campaign against the slave trade in the 19th century, and the lessons for the present:
“A mighty empire launches an unprecedented military campaign. It will patrol the globe to end a heinous and uncivilized form of behavior. Financing this pre-emptive project demands great sacrifices. Old allies refuse to participate. The empire’s lonely unilateral exercise drags on for decades, costing thousands of lives. Observers from Cuba to Moscow assume that this folly will bring down the empire.” [New York Sun, 11/4/03]